Playbooks
Breakdown
HB Gut is a downhill run play out of Shotgun Split Slot Open that sends the HB on a gut path through the A or B gap behind a fullback lead blocker, as shown by the red arrow crossing back inside toward the play side. The interior offensive line blocks down while the fullback kicks out or wraps to lead through the hole, creating a gap scheme run with a natural cutback lane. This is a run play designed to attack downhill with duo or gut blocking rather than a man or zone beater through the air, and the primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the initial gap, read the fullback's lead block, and cut off the block placement between the A and B gap.
Defensive Reads
Key the fullback's block target immediately after the snap since his lead path tells you which gap the HB is committing to. Watch inside linebacker depth pre-snap: linebackers sitting shallow near the line of scrimmage are in better position to fill the gut lane and blow up this run before it develops. If the defense shows a stacked front with both A gaps filled, expect the HB to look for a bounce or cutback rather than forcing it up the middle. User-controlled defenders spying the fullback's lead block can shut this down by beating the kick out block and forcing the HB to redirect immediately. Look for safeties creeping down into the box pre-snap since an extra run defender in the alley eliminates the cutback lane and turns this into a low gain or negative play against a heavy run blitz.
Usage Tips
Use HB Gut on early downs when you want to establish tempo and force the defense to respect the interior run before opening up your passing concepts from this set. Check the box count pre-snap: if the defense is in a light box with 6 or fewer defenders, this play has a numbers advantage and should hit fast. Watch for stacked linebackers straight downhill since gut blocking is designed to displace them, but if you see them crashing hard playside pre-snap consider bounce potential to the cutback. Pair HB Gut with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the interior run without giving up a peek route behind linebacker flow. Against aggressive fronts, sequence this with HB Draw or Power Read later in the series to keep second level defenders honest and freeze their run fits.
